When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? (Matthew 16:13).

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2 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? (Matthew 16:13).

3 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? (Matthew 16:13).

4 Non-Christian

5 Tacitus (Romans Historian AD ) Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular (The Annals by Tacitus Book 15 44). [Notice Luke 3:1 speaks of Tiberius reign]

6 Pliny the Younger (the governor of Pontus/Bithynia from AD in a letter to Trajan the Roman Emperor) They (Christians, JRM) asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so (Pliny, Letters ).

7 (Roman Emperor from AD his response to the letter from Pliny) Trajan You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those who had been denounced to you as Christians. For it is not possible to lay down any general rule to serve as a kind of fixed standard. They are not to be sought out; if they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished, with this reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it--that is, by worshiping our gods--even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance (Pliny, Letters ).

8 Thallus (About A.D. 52, Thallus wrote a history about the Middle East from the time of the Trojan War to the first century A.D.[1] The work has been lost and the only record we have of his writings is through Julius Africanus (AD 221). Below Julius Africanus refers to Christ's crucifixion and the darkness that covered the earth prior to his death) On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness Thallus, in the 263 third book of his History, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun (Julius Africanus, Chronography, 18.1). [Notice Mark 15:33-darkness; Matthew27:51-53rocks split]

9 (Roman Biographer AD chief secretary to the emperor Hadran wrote Lives of the Caesars) Suetonius Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from Rome (The Life of Claudius, XXV.4). [Acts 18:2 Aquila & Priscilla expelled from Rome] Punishment was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition (The Life of Nero, XVI.2).

10 Lucian of Samosata (a satirist of the second century) These deluded creatures, you see, have persuaded themselves that they are immortal and will live forever, which explains the contempt of death and willing self-sacrifice so common among them. It was impressed on them too by their lawgiver that from the moment they are converted, deny the gods of Greece, worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws, they are all brothers. They take his instructions completely on faith, with the result that they despise all worldly goods and hold them in common ownership. So any adroit, unscrupulous fellow, who knows the world, has only to get among these simple souls and his fortune is quickly made; he plays with them (Passing of Peregrinus AD).

11 Non-Christian Jewish

12 Josephus (Jewish historian AD) Now, there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the]christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of the Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day (Antiquities Of The Jews, Book 18, chapter 3, paragraph 3, p. 379).

13 Josephus (Jewish historian born in AD 37) Ananus so he assembled the sanhedrin of the judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James (Antiquities Of The Jews, book 20, chapter 9, paragraph 1, p. 423). [Jewish Wars was written in 75 AD; Antiquities of the Jews was written in 94 AD]

14 The Babylonian Talmud (this is an ancient record of Jewish history, laws, and rabbinic teachings compiled throughout the centuries) On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, 'He is going forth to be stoned because he has practised sorcery and enticed Israel to apostacy. Any one who can say anything in his favour, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.' But since nothing was brought forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover (Tractate Sanhedrin Folio 43a).

15 Skeptic Interjection: How can we know the Talmud is documenting Jesus' existence and not only stating the rumor surrounding a myth? Answer: In the above excerpt the Talmud mentions Jesus' ability to perform miracles but tries to dismiss it as sorcery. If the writers were simply refuting myth, they would most likely have dismissed the tale as a rumor- not assign alternative theories to defend their position. Skeptic Interjection: How can we know this passage is a reference to Jesus and not another individual with the name Yeshu? Answer: Though it is possible this passage could refer to another individual, we know Jesus was killed during the Passover, we know He was crucified (a Jewish idiom for hanged), we know He was accused of practicing sorcery by the pharisees (for His miracles), and He was ultimately arrested for the sin of blasphemy (enticing Israel to apostasy). Furthermore, there are other translations which read Yeshu the Nazarene which give us even more reason to believe this passage pertains to Jesus

16 Non-Christian Jewish Church Fathers

17 Clement of Rome (bishop of Rome) May God, who sees all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh -- who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a peculiar people -- grant to every soul that calls upon His glorious and holy Name, faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, to the well-pleasing of His Name, through our High Priest and Protector, Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him glory, and majesty, and power, and honour, both now and for evermore. Amen (Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 58; written late first century or early second century).

18 Polycarp (bishop of Smyrna AD) Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal High-priest Himself the [Son of God Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and truth, and in all gentleness and in all avoidance of wrath and in forbearance and long suffering and in patient endurance and in purity; and may He grant unto you a lot and portion among His saints, and to us with you, and to all that are under heaven, who shall believe on our Lord and God Jesus Christ and on His Father that raised him from the dead (Letter to the Philippians, 12:2).

19 Polycarp (at his death) The Roman proconsul gave him the choice between cursing the name of Christ and making a sacrifice to Caesar, or dying. Polycarp said, Eighty-six years I have served the Lord. He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who has saved me?

20 Justin Martyr ( AD a converted philosopher) Our teacher of these things is Jesus Christ, who also was born for this purpose, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judaea, in the times of Tiberius Caesar; and that we reasonably worship Him, having learned that He is the Son of the true God Himself, and holding Him in the second place, and the prophetic Spirit in the third, we will prove. For they proclaim our madness to consist in this, that we give to a crucified man a place second to the unchangeable and eternal God, the Creator of all; for they do not discern the mystery that is herein, to which, as we make it plain to you, we pray you to give heed (The First Apology of Justin, chapter 13).

21 Iranaeus ( AD bishop at Lyons in France) For Matthew the apostle-knowing, as one and the same God, Him who had given promise to Abraham, that He would make his seed as the stars of heaven, and Him who, by His Son Christ Jesus, has called us to the knowledge of Himself, from the worship of stones, so that those who were not a people were made a people, and she beloved who was not beloved declares that John, when preparing the way for Christ, said to those who were boasting of their relationship [to Abraham] according to the flesh, but who had their mind tinged and stuffed with all manner of evil, preaching that repentance which should call them back from their evil doings (Against Heresies, Book III. Chapter 9 paragraph 1).

22 Tertullian ( AD a presbyter of the church at Carthage, a lawyer) Nay, it was because He had already His Son close at His side, as a second Person, His own Word, and a third Person also, the Spirit in the Word, that He purposely adopted the plural phrase, Let us make; and, in our image; and, become as one of us. For with whom did He make man? and to whom did He make him like? (The answer must be), the Son on the one hand, who was one day to put on human nature; and the Spirit on the other, who was to sanctify man. With these did He then speak, in the Unity of the Trinity, as with His ministers and witnesses In the following text also He distinguishes among the Persons: So God created man in His own image; in the image of God created He him (Against Praxeas, chapter 12).

23 Non-Christian Jewish Church Fathers

24 Let's summarize what we've learned about Jesus from this examination of ancient nonchristian sources. First, both Josephus and Lucian indicate that Jesus was regarded as wise. Second, Pliny, the Talmud, and Lucian imply He was a powerful and revered teacher. Third, both Josephus and the Talmud indicate He performed miraculous feats. Fourth, Tacitus, Josephus, the Talmud, and Lucian all mention that He was crucified. Tacitus and Josephus say this occurred under Pontius Pilate. And the Talmud declares it happened on the eve of Passover. Fifth, there are possible references to the Christian belief in Jesus' resurrection in both Tacitus and Josephus. Sixth, Josephus records that Jesus' followers believed He was the Christ, or Messiah. And finally, both Pliny and Lucian indicate that Christians worshipped Jesus as God! (Probe Ministries).

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